Elsie Niedens, 85, died Oct. 5, 2005, in Hutchinson.

She was born Oct. 3, 1920, in Barton County, the daughter of Jacob and Minnie Deutsch Maier. She attended Rocky Point School, Ford County. She is a former resident of Barton County, Ford County, Hodgeman County and Dodge City, moving to Hutchinson in 2000. She was a bookkeeper at Duckwalls, a clerk at J.C. Penney's and retired as a cook with USD No. 443, all at Dodge City.

She belonged to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Dodge City, the Church Altar Guild, and the Worthwhile Club, Hodgeman County.

On Sept. 21, 1941, she married Leo Niedens in Hodgeman County. He died June 23, 1983.

Survivors include: a son, Lonnie L. and his wife Kathy, Lawrence; two daughters, Linda L. Banz and her husband Gary, and Loetta L. Walker and her husband Sonny, all of Hutchinson; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Leland L. Maier; and a sister, Rosie M. Legg.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m. at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, Dodge City.

Memorials may be sent to Mission Place Recreational Fund, Hospice of Reno County or the church, all in care of Elliott Mortuary.